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Friday, August 2, 2013

Block Stamping - Who Says it's better to give...

Yogi here and I've been asked to do the technique for August, so I picked a real simple one. BIG GRIN
All you need is an acrylic block (or a few of them...) some stamp pad ink (Distress works really well) and your card. After creating the first card (the tall one) I thought I'd make a CAS (clean and simple) card using the same colors and stamping technique, which brings us to the smaller card.

And I'm using what was originally released with a bunch of Xmas stamps... but who says it can only be for Xmas.

I side folded an 11" piece of cardstock at the 4" point & 8"point, folding the balance to the inside to create the pocket.

Used various sizes of acrylic blocks, first inking with a light color, then scrapping the pad against the edge of the block with a darker color, misting with water and stamping on to card. Each block was colored with a different Distress pad (Mustard Seed, Worn Lipstick, Broken China & Shabby Shutters) edging with "Walnut Stain"

I die cut several Spellbinders very small ovals, nesting two together. Adhered the loops to create the faux ribbon bow.

Embossed the narrow flap using Spellbinders mBossibilities "Numbers & Letters" embossing folder, hitting the high points with a dirty red sponge. Die cut the edge with Spellbinders "A2 Curved Borders 1" set. Used the same die on a piece of textured ochre colored cardstock and layered the two together, adding a strip of Sookwang tape along the bottom edge to create the pocket.

Great place to put a bookmark or check or both BIG GRIN

Used an electronic cutter to cut out the "Flourished Leaf Oval", reshaping it in my software to make it a circle. Removed the center drop out piece and sponged Distress along the outside border. Stamped the sentiment on the drop out piece with the black and clear embossed, then sponged some Distress around the edges. Adhered to card, then adhered the border piece.

My 2nd card:I inked up an acrylic block with Distress "Mustard Seed" just pouncing the pad all over the block, then scrapped the edge of my pad with "Rusty Hinge" along each edge of the block, Inked up my background stamp (Impression Obsession "Bubbles") with Versafine Black Onyx and pressed my inked block onto the stamp, misted the acrylic block with water and then stamped onto my card.

It created the nicely outlined, patterned block, no masking needed... One step does it all.

I dried it thoroughly and stamped my quote with the black and clear embossed.

Selectively embossed the Swiss Dots (Cuttlebug) around the edges of my card without a machine or my proverbial hard rubber mallet.

Here's how: place your cardstock inside your folder. Place this somewhere near a leg of a table so you can apply good pressure. STAND UP. Press your thumbs or palms of your hands in the area you want embossed, and then just apply all your body weight into the pressing down. Almost like you're only balancing on those digits. It will transfer the embossed design onto your card. BIG GRIN.

Tie a 4 loop peg bow and adhere to card with some Golden's Heavy Gel Medium. Adhere small pieces with Sookwang tap to imitate the wrapped package.

Inside of card: Die cut the envelope (Sizzix) and stamp design as for the front of card. Fold at score lines and adhere to inside of card. Insert a coupon or ticket or whatever...

Stamp the calligraphic frame with the same Distress colors inside and clear emboss. Stamp the sentiment with the black and clear emboss.